Competencies Overview
Competencies describe the level of understanding or proficiency of a learner in certain subject-related skills or course. Competency-based education (CBE), also known as Competency-based learning or Skills-based learning, refers to systems of assessment and grading where students demonstrate these competencies. From Moodle 3.1 upwards, it is possible to create and apply frameworks for evaluating students against competencies in Moodle.
Overview on how to set up Competencies?
- Competencies may be enabled by an administrator in Site administration > Competencies.
- Administrators can then set up competency frameworks and add competencies to them.
- Administrators can then create learning plan templates, add competencies to those learning plate templates and assign learning plans to individual selected students or to whole cohorts.
- Teachers can add competencies to courses and course activities. Teachers can view a competency breakdown report from the Administration block and rate competencies.
- Staff with the relevant capabilities can review student learning plans and view any evidence of prior learning students submit.
- Students can view their learning plans, upload evidence of prior learning and request reviews.
Accessing Competencies
To access Competencies use the following pathway
Pathway: Site Administration > Competencies |
Competencies settings
When you enter Competencies settings, there are two options that are available to either enable or disable.
Enable Competencies |
Competencies allow users to be assessed according to learning plans. |
Push course ratings to individual learning plans |
Default value for the course setting to update individual learning plans when course competencies are rated. The default setting is ‘Yes’. |
Migrate Frameworks
This Migrate Framework option can be used to update a competency framework to a newer version. This tool searches for competencies in courses and activities using the older framework, and updates the links to point to the new framework.
![]() |
It is not recommended to edit the old set of competencies directly, as this would change all of the competencies that have already been awarded in users' learning plans. Typically you would import the new version of a framework, hide the old framework, then use this tool to migrate new courses to the new framework. |
Import competency framework
Existing frameworks may be imported via a csv file. To import an existing framework Moodle requires the csv file be in the following format. If you are unsure how to set up a CSV file, download an existing framework to use as a model.
Parent ID number |
Competencies are arranged in a tree. This field indicates which competency is the parent of the current row. |
ID number |
A string that uniquely identifies this competency in this framework |
Short name |
A short name for the competency |
Description |
A longer description for the competency |
Description format |
A number representing the format of the text in the description. Valid options are: 0 = Moodle format, 1 = HTML, 2 = Plain text, 3 = Wiki format, 4 = Markdown |
Scale values |
Only required on the framework row. Defines a comma separated list of options used to grade the competencies |
Scale configuration |
A json encoded object used to define the scale configuration. is a valid default |
Related ID numbers |
A comma separated list of id numbers belonging to competencies related to the current row |
Is framework |
Must be 1 for a single row in the framework which defines the name and description of the entire framework |
Taxonomy |
Defined for the framework row, defines the language string keys used to describe competencies at each level of the framework |
Plugins are available for importing in other formats.
Export competency framework
Competency frameworks may be exported in CSV format.
Fields from exported CSV file |
Example data from an exported CSV file |
"Parent ID number","ID number","Short name",Description,"Description format","Scale values","Scale configuration","Rule type (optional)","Rule outcome (optional)","Rule config (optional)","Cross-referenced competency ID numbers","Exported ID (optional)","Is framework",Taxonomy |
Math001,Mathematics,"A Mathematics Framework",1,"Not yet competent,Competent","[{""scaleid"":""2""},{""id"":2,""scaledefault"":1,""proficient"":1}]",,,,,,1,"behaviour,indicator,level,skill" |
System Competency framework
Entering the competency framework module, will display a list of competency frameworks. If there a no competency frameworks displayed, select the Add new competency framework button. This will allow you to add a new system competency framework.
Adding a new competency framework provides the administrator to provide information into the following fields.
Name |
The name of the competency |
Description |
A detailed description of the competency that may include the purpose of the competency |
ID number |
A string that uniquely identifies this competency in this framework |
Scale |
A selection of either:
The separate and connected ways of knowing describes two different ways that we can evaluate and learn about the things we see and hear. Typically Separate involves objective critical thinking with facts whereas Connected are empathy and experiential driven |
Configure Scales |
Default Competence Scale ![]() The default value is what is displayed in the breakdown report (see Manually rating course competencies) for a student progressing through their learning plan when a competency is automatically met upon activity completion. Items in the Proficient list can be selected and displayed when a teacher rates a competency manually. eg Default - Competent Proficient - Competent |
Separate and Connected ways of knowing Proficiency may have several different levels linked to the default which can all be identified as competent in several levels. eg Default - Mostly connected knowing Proficient - Separate and connected and Mostly connected knowing |
|
Visible |
Competency frameworks may be hidden if they are being setup or hidden |
Taxonomies |
Taxonomies have four levels with each level providing a structure to the framework. These include from the drop down menu: Behaviour, Competency, Concept, Domain, Indicator, Level, Outcome, Practice, Proficiency, Skill and Value |
Adding sub levels to system competencies
Once a competency has been created and selected, sub competency levels can be added by selecting the Add level button.
Competency Framework |
The name provided of the competency framework |
Parent |
The default parent value is: No parent (top level competency) This may be changed by selecting the pencil icon and searching or selecting the appropriate competency |
Name |
The name of the competency |
Description |
A detailed description of the competency that may include the purpose of the competency |
ID number |
A string that uniquely identifies this competency in this framework |
Scale |
A selection of either:
This option describes two different ways that we can evaluate and learn about the things we see and hear. Typically Separate involves objective critical thinking with facts whereas Connected are empathy and experiential driven |
Configure Scales |
Not available for Inherit from competency framework (default) Default Competence Scale ![]() The default value is what is displayed in the breakdown report (see Manually rating course competencies) for a student progressing through their learning plan when a competency is automatically met upon activity completion. Items in the Proficient list can be selected and displayed when a teacher rates a competency manually. |
Separate and Connected ways of knowing Proficiency may have several different levels linked to the default which can mean a student is competent in several levels. eg Default - Mostly connected knowing Proficient - Separate and connected and Mostly connected knowing |
Working with sub level system competencies
Once a sub level competency has been created and selected, skills can be added by selecting the Add skill button that will display the same form as for adding sub level competencies (see Adding sub levels to competencies).
Selecting the Edit option displays a menu providing administrators to perform the following functions.
Edit |
This allows administrators to make changes to the competency framework regardless of the level |
Relocate |
Competencies may be moved to other locations by selecting that location. |
Delete |
Competencies that are no longer required may be deleted but will require confirmation. |
Move Up |
Competencies may be moved up the current list |
Move Down |
Competencies may be moved down the current list |
Linked courses |
If courses are not linked to a competency, the following will be displayed. ![]() Otherwise he following will be displayed showing competencies linked to courses |
Add cross referenced competency |
Competencies may be cross referenced |
Competency rule |
Competency rules can be added to any competency in a framework, as long as it has children. If competency rules are unable to be added due to no children, the following will be displayed. If competency rules are able to be added, the following will be displayed where one of the following may be selected
All competency rules (except for None) allow for the selection at the When field of either :
|
Learning plan templates
Entering the Learning plan templates module, will display a list of learning plans. If there are no learning plans displayed, select the Add new learning plan template button. This will allow you to add a new one.
Adding a new learning plan template provides the administrator to provide information into the following fields.
Name |
The name of the learning plan template |
Description |
A detailed description of the learning plan |
Visible |
Learning plans may be hidden if they are being setup or hidden by administrators |
Due date |
The date when the learning plan is to be completed |
Category |
System |
Once a learning plan template has been created, a competency may be added to this learning plan template by selecting Add competencies to learning plan template.
Edit |
This allows administrators to make changes to the learning plan selected |
Duplicate |
Learning plans may be duplicated and renamed. |
Create learning plans |
Allows the administrator to select individual users to learning plans |
Add cohorts to sync |
Allows the administrator to select a group of cohorts to learning plans |
Delete |
Learning plans that are no longer required may be deleted but will require administrator confirmation regarding two options.
|
Selecting Add competencies to learning plan template will display the competency picker.
The competency picker will allow the administrator to select a competency framework and either one or more competencies displayed from the list.
Competencies at the category level
Both Learning plan templates and Competency frameworks may be created at the category level and can use any of the Learning plan templates and Competency frameworks that have been created at the system level discussed earlier (see System Competency framework).
Selecting Learning plan templates allows administrators to either Add a new learning plan template to their category or select an existing learning plan template from the available list.
Selecting an existing learning plan template allows the administrator to select from the Competency picker a Competency framework and Competency from the list.
Selecting Competency frameworks allows administrators to either Add a new Competency frameworks to their category or select an existing Competency framework from the available list.
Selecting an existing Competency framework allows the administrator to either add a new Competency framework or select from the Competency framework list.
Competencies at the course level
Competencies may be added at the course level by selecting the Competencies from the menu.
Selecting Add competencies to course Competency allows administrators to select an existing Competency from the Competency picker.
Adding competencies to courses allows administrators to select these in the course activities that have been setup and upon activity completion students are able to either:
- Attach evidence
- Send for review
- Complete the competency
Manually rating course competencies
A course teacher can rate the students against each of the course competencies using the following pathway.
Pathway: Course administration > Reports > Competency breakdown |
Select a student from the menu, click on the desired competency (usually this will be displayed as Not rated).
After selecting a desired competency, a page for that student will display and you can then change their rating from the dropdown menu.